Coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you are planning on travelling distance to attractions, we would recommend that you contact the venues directly in advance to avoid disappointment.

If you, or any of your party have a new persistant cough, or develop a fever of 38C, we would instead advise you to use the NHS's dedicated website for professional advice.

RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden Reserve

Whether you are seeking inspiration to help nature in your garden, or the idea of a family day out in the heart of Constable Country excites you, come and enjoy free entry to our first dedicated wildlife garden.The garden is situated in the beautiful and historic hamlet of Flatford, where John Constable used to paint. It is designed to teach and inspire people to help wildlife in their own gardens.The garden occupies a beautiful setting, on a south-facing slope beside the serene River Stour. It consists of flower borders full of nectar and pollen, a small wildflower meadow buzzing with life, a young apple orchard, woodland gardens, and a kitchen garden, all designed with garden wildlife in mind.We offer frequent events and activities at the garden, with more children’s activities during the school holidays, and events and workshops for adults in the time between school holidays. It’s a beautiful place to get closer to nature! Please check our events page (see left) for full details. As well as exploring our lovely garden, there are lots of other things to do around Flatford: in summer there are canoes and row-boats to hire on the river, as well as boat trips to Dedham. You can discover scenes and landscapes painted by Constable at every turn. You can walk up and down the lovely, serene Stour Valley and Dedham Vale. Flatford and Dedham (which is a pleasant walk up the valley) both offer great places to have tea and cake or even lunch in a lovely setting!Why a wildlife garden? Well, gardens cover three times more land than all RSPB nature reserves put together, and therefore are a huge potential resource for wildlife if they provide the right conditions. They could help to create links throughout the wider landscape between the shrinking areas of good habitat that are left after the depredations of the last 70 years. This is vital for freedom of movement and ultimately the stability of wildlife populations in a changing environment.We hope through this garden to inspire people to make space for wildlife in their gardens and minds.
Between 3 November and 27 March the garden is closed except for the dates detailed on the Events page. Between 27 March and 3 November we're open seven days a week, 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
It's free to get in! Parking in the National Trust car park costs £3.50 per car for the day.
Children and families can enjoy a range of activities during school holidays, including pond dipping, mini-beast hunting, moth mornings and nature trails, amongst others. Please call us to check what activities are on at the moment.
Dogs are welcome, but should be on a lead, please.

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